Holland native to be inducted into the West Michigan Whitecaps Hall of Fame

COMSTOCK PARK – The West Michigan Whitecaps announced Friday that former pitcher Andy Van Hekken will be inducted into the franchise’s hall of fame on Jan. 23.

Andy Van Hekken, shown here in pitching for the Whitecaps in 2000, will be inducted into the franchises hall of fame on Jan. 23.MLive.com File Photo

The ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Whitecaps Winter Baseball Banquet at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.

Van Hekken, who is the lone 2013 inductee, pitched for the Whitecaps in 2000 and enjoyed one of the best seasons in the team’s 16-year history. Van Hekken, 33, won 16 games that year, which ties him for first with Jon Connolly (2003) for most wins in a season in team history. His winning percentage (.727) and ERA (2.45) for that year both rank eighth overall in the Whitecaps record books.

Van Hekken, who starred at Holland High School, was drafted in the third round of the 1998 draft by the Seattle Mariners. He was later traded to the Detroit Tigers, and he recorded a complete game shutout victory in his Sept. 3, 2002 Major League debut against the Cleveland Indians. He eventually played in the farm systems of the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros.

Van Hekken continues to pitch. He will begin his second season of playing in Korea later this winter.

The Whitecaps Winter Baseball Banquet is scheduled to begin at 5:45 p.m. with a silent auction, which will include sports memorabilia. Dinner, a live auction and the Whitecaps Hall of Fame induction will follow.

Proceeds from the Winter Baseball Banquet will be donated to the Whitecaps Community Foundation, which will donate all funds to the YMCA Inner-City Youth Baseball and Softball Program and the Detroit Tigers Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities. More than $505,000 has been raised through the Whitecaps Winter Banquet for the charities.

Tickets are now on sale, with Jan. 14 serving as the deadline. Two ticket options are available for fans interested in attending the event. Corporate tables are $900, and they include 10 tickets to the banquet, 40 raffle tickets and preferred seating. Individual tickets are $80 per person. Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20. Those unable to attend but interested in supporting the charities may donate any amount. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Whitecaps at (616) 726-7017.

The YMCA Inner-City Youth Baseball and Softball Program, funded by the West Michigan Whitecaps and Fifth Third Bank, gives approximately 1,900 children annually the chance to participate in a structured activity that provides guidance in their lives. Money raised provides the equipment and operations necessary to teach the youth self-esteem, teamwork, self-confidence and the fundamentals of baseball.